Services

Council stops anglers by removing fish from canal

SWINDON Council has resorted to removing large numbers of fish from the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal in a bid to stop illegal fishing due to lack of resources for regular patrols.

Residents and dog walkers in the area called for action to be taken to stop anglers fishing in the canal, which runs behind Kingshill’s Esso garage, after Douglas Love’s three-year-old chocolate labrador, Bella, needed surgery to remove a fishhook that had become lodged in her oesophagus.

The council owns the canal and is responsible for maintaining it but has said that it cannot maintain patrols regularly enough for them to be an effective deterrent and so have taken the decision to remove fish from the stretch of water.

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “The removal of the fish from the canal is the best way of tackling the illegal fishing problem as we do not have the resources to patrol the canal around the clock.

“We have had to wait for suitable conditions to remove the fish, which is why the work is being carried out now by specialist contractors.

“The fish that are being removed we will be used to restock other lakes.”

But the move has not gone down well with everyone.

Dog walker Paul Scarr said he was furious the wildlife in the area was being moved.

“I’m disgusted,” the 64-year-old said. “I was walking my dog along there and saw them with nets taking the fish out.

“They had a flatbed truck and they were putting them all in big tanks.

“I asked them what they were doing and they said it’s because the council don’t have the resources to police it.

“They’ve destroyed the eco-system down there and now the water is horrible. I just don’t think it’s right.”

The Environment Agency has been consulted by the council and their officers have the powers to take enforcement action.

An agency spokesman said: “The Environment Agency is absolutely committed to eliminating illegal fishing and we will have no hesitation in prosecuting those who commit fish crime to the fullest extent of the law.

“Legitimate anglers provide us with invaluable help in keeping a watchful eye on our rivers.

“We urge all those who value the future of angling to report any suspicious fishing activities to us so that our teams can swiftly take action.

“If anyone thinks that they have seen any illegal fishing, or trade in illegally caught fish, they should phone the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 with any information.”

Comments

Davey Gravey
7:49am Sat 12 Apr 14

Once apon a time we used to have park rangers patrolling these areas on theirscooters. I guess they were scrapped due to the Tories destruction of public services. What a shame the fish have been removed.

Once apon a time we used to have park rangers patrolling these areas on theirscooters. I guess they were scrapped due to the Tories destruction of public services. What a shame the fish have been removed.Davey Gravey

Once apon a time we used to have park rangers patrolling these areas on theirscooters. I guess they were scrapped due to the Tories destruction of public services. What a shame the fish have been removed.

Score: 3

Ollie Dognacky
8:32am Sat 12 Apr 14

[quote]“They’ve destroyed the eco-system down there and now the water is horrible. I just don’t think it’s right.”[/quote]

That's a completely false statement.
Fish are actually predators of smaller water creatures.
Without fish other wildlife will prosper such as frogs, newts, whirligig beetles, and midges

[quote]“They’ve destroyed the eco-system down there and now the water is horrible. I just don’t think it’s right.”[/quote]
That's a completely false statement.
Fish are actually predators of smaller water creatures.
Without fish other wildlife will prosper such as frogs, newts, whirligig beetles, and midgesOllie Dognacky

[quote]“They’ve destroyed the eco-system down there and now the water is horrible. I just don’t think it’s right.”[/quote]

That's a completely false statement.
Fish are actually predators of smaller water creatures.
Without fish other wildlife will prosper such as frogs, newts, whirligig beetles, and midges

Score: -13

Amberflame
10:13am Sat 12 Apr 14

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is the problem regarding fishing that canal? Wouldn't it be a better idea to allow licenced fishing which would then maybe fund a warden?

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is the problem regarding fishing that canal? Wouldn't it be a better idea to allow licenced fishing which would then maybe fund a warden?Amberflame

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is the problem regarding fishing that canal? Wouldn't it be a better idea to allow licenced fishing which would then maybe fund a warden?

Score: 35

BeardyBill
10:56am Sat 12 Apr 14

OK I'm confused - why has the Council spent god knows how much to solve what doesn't appear to be much of a problem? Why is there an issue with fishing this stretch of water? On the face of it, looks like a wacky decision -let's have the full story Adver

OK I'm confused - why has the Council spent god knows how much to solve what doesn't appear to be much of a problem? Why is there an issue with fishing this stretch of water? On the face of it, looks like a wacky decision -let's have the full story AdverBeardyBill

OK I'm confused - why has the Council spent god knows how much to solve what doesn't appear to be much of a problem? Why is there an issue with fishing this stretch of water? On the face of it, looks like a wacky decision -let's have the full story Adver

Score: 29

villageoldman
11:32am Sat 12 Apr 14

It could only happen in Swindon! Next - Water in the canal, health and safety issue. !!!!!

It could only happen in Swindon! Next - Water in the canal, health and safety issue. !!!!!villageoldman

It could only happen in Swindon! Next - Water in the canal, health and safety issue. !!!!!

Score: 13

Richard Symonds
11:40am Sat 12 Apr 14

Being £120m in debt and about to give away the Leisure Facilities, I guess this has to be a real priority Council.

Cut the grass, clean of the Graffiti and pick up the litter.

What a waste of financial resources!!

Being £120m in debt and about to give away the Leisure Facilities, I guess this has to be a real priority Council.
Cut the grass, clean of the Graffiti and pick up the litter.
What a waste of financial resources!!Richard Symonds

Being £120m in debt and about to give away the Leisure Facilities, I guess this has to be a real priority Council.

Cut the grass, clean of the Graffiti and pick up the litter.

What a waste of financial resources!!

Score: 23

House with no name
12:04pm Sat 12 Apr 14

I am confused - What is legal fishing in that area or is fishing banned from all canals in Swindon?

If so I committed lots of crime when I was a boy.

I am confused - What is legal fishing in that area or is fishing banned from all canals in Swindon?
If so I committed lots of crime when I was a boy.House with no name

I am confused - What is legal fishing in that area or is fishing banned from all canals in Swindon?

If so I committed lots of crime when I was a boy.

Score: 10

mikey111
2:45pm Sat 12 Apr 14

mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat

mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eatmikey111

mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat

Score: 9

timt1964
9:45pm Sat 12 Apr 14

typical council.lets stop anyone having anything for free.how can the council "own" the fish? did they put every single one in the canal? NO. what a waste of time and guess what,our money! clueless council,clueless government.

typical council.lets stop anyone having anything for free.how can the council "own" the fish? did they put every single one in the canal? NO. what a waste of time and guess what,our money! clueless council,clueless government.timt1964

typical council.lets stop anyone having anything for free.how can the council "own" the fish? did they put every single one in the canal? NO. what a waste of time and guess what,our money! clueless council,clueless government.

Score: 8

I Could Do That
11:51pm Sat 12 Apr 14

Swindon
Borough
Clownschool strikes again

Swindon
Borough
Clownschool strikes againI Could Do That

Swindon
Borough
Clownschool strikes again

Score: 6

Wildwestener
12:26am Sun 13 Apr 14

absolute joke by the Council. I thought money was tight.

absolute joke by the Council. I thought money was tight.Wildwestener

absolute joke by the Council. I thought money was tight.

Score: 10

leafy1
8:16am Sun 13 Apr 14

What a joke this has become.There's still going to be fish in there as you won't catch them all.This won't stop anyone fishing in the canal........it's just a deterrent to try and make people think there won't be any fish left .

What a joke this has become.There's still going to be fish in there as you won't catch them all.This won't stop anyone fishing in the canal........it's just a deterrent to try and make people think there won't be any fish left .leafy1

What a joke this has become.There's still going to be fish in there as you won't catch them all.This won't stop anyone fishing in the canal........it's just a deterrent to try and make people think there won't be any fish left .

Score: 8

BeardyBill
8:41am Sun 13 Apr 14

mikey111 wrote…

mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat

That's got to be an urban myth - bloody immigrants, coming here and nicking our fish sounds like the nonsense spouted by UKIP.

Made me chuckle though......the Councils answer to people taking fish away is to take all the fish away! You couldn't make iit up

[quote][p][bold]mikey111[/bold] wrote:
mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat[/p][/quote]That's got to be an urban myth - bloody immigrants, coming here and nicking our fish sounds like the nonsense spouted by UKIP.
Made me chuckle though......the Councils answer to people taking fish away is to take all the fish away! You couldn't make iit upBeardyBill

mikey111 wrote…

mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat

That's got to be an urban myth - bloody immigrants, coming here and nicking our fish sounds like the nonsense spouted by UKIP.

Made me chuckle though......the Councils answer to people taking fish away is to take all the fish away! You couldn't make iit up

Score: 10

Esox72
11:47am Sun 13 Apr 14

The person who is behind this is Mr Mark Jennings of Swindon borough Council. This is a political move based on a member of the public taking action against the council for injuries to their dog. The council have justified their actions by causing a smoke screen, sighting illegal fishing is the reason. This is purely to portray to the public that this course of action is justified.
Mark Jennings of Swindon Borough Council is responsible for all the council’s parks and lakes. A big issue has been made in this article about how proactive the Council (Mr Jennings) and the E.A are in tackling illegal fishing. For the past couple of years myself and other anglers have been bombarding the council with reports of illegal fishing and even fish theft from council waters. That have been carried out by Eastern Europeans. The response every time by both organisations has been, there is nothing we can do. Even when we have gone into the rangers office in Coate Water, and told them fish are being killed and taken as we were talking to them. They just shrugged their shoulders and said it’s not our problem. This has been the response by both Mr Jennings at the top, and the rangers on the ground. On numerous occasions over the years!
Swindon Council made a tidy profit from leasing their lakes to fishing clubs and licences and day tickets at Coate Water. Not a penny of this money goes back to into improving any of the fishing facilities for the residents of Swindon. It’s disappears into thin air, and every excuse under the sun is made not to spend it when asked to improve the angling and restocking etc.
As this article clearly shows Swindon Borough Council are prepared to destroy a whole eco system and the wild life that reside within it. When someone takes action against them, the issue of the dog and the fishing hook would have not been a issue. If it had happened at Coate Water which makes the council revenue unlike the canal My opinion is this the council are corrupt and lie for their own ends. We see this time and time again. Mr Jennings shame on you and the council.

The person who is behind this is Mr Mark Jennings of Swindon borough Council. This is a political move based on a member of the public taking action against the council for injuries to their dog. The council have justified their actions by causing a smoke screen, sighting illegal fishing is the reason. This is purely to portray to the public that this course of action is justified.
Mark Jennings of Swindon Borough Council is responsible for all the council’s parks and lakes. A big issue has been made in this article about how proactive the Council (Mr Jennings) and the E.A are in tackling illegal fishing. For the past couple of years myself and other anglers have been bombarding the council with reports of illegal fishing and even fish theft from council waters. That have been carried out by Eastern Europeans. The response every time by both organisations has been, there is nothing we can do. Even when we have gone into the rangers office in Coate Water, and told them fish are being killed and taken as we were talking to them. They just shrugged their shoulders and said it’s not our problem. This has been the response by both Mr Jennings at the top, and the rangers on the ground. On numerous occasions over the years!
Swindon Council made a tidy profit from leasing their lakes to fishing clubs and licences and day tickets at Coate Water. Not a penny of this money goes back to into improving any of the fishing facilities for the residents of Swindon. It’s disappears into thin air, and every excuse under the sun is made not to spend it when asked to improve the angling and restocking etc.
As this article clearly shows Swindon Borough Council are prepared to destroy a whole eco system and the wild life that reside within it. When someone takes action against them, the issue of the dog and the fishing hook would have not been a issue. If it had happened at Coate Water which makes the council revenue unlike the canal My opinion is this the council are corrupt and lie for their own ends. We see this time and time again. Mr Jennings shame on you and the council.Esox72

The person who is behind this is Mr Mark Jennings of Swindon borough Council. This is a political move based on a member of the public taking action against the council for injuries to their dog. The council have justified their actions by causing a smoke screen, sighting illegal fishing is the reason. This is purely to portray to the public that this course of action is justified.
Mark Jennings of Swindon Borough Council is responsible for all the council’s parks and lakes. A big issue has been made in this article about how proactive the Council (Mr Jennings) and the E.A are in tackling illegal fishing. For the past couple of years myself and other anglers have been bombarding the council with reports of illegal fishing and even fish theft from council waters. That have been carried out by Eastern Europeans. The response every time by both organisations has been, there is nothing we can do. Even when we have gone into the rangers office in Coate Water, and told them fish are being killed and taken as we were talking to them. They just shrugged their shoulders and said it’s not our problem. This has been the response by both Mr Jennings at the top, and the rangers on the ground. On numerous occasions over the years!
Swindon Council made a tidy profit from leasing their lakes to fishing clubs and licences and day tickets at Coate Water. Not a penny of this money goes back to into improving any of the fishing facilities for the residents of Swindon. It’s disappears into thin air, and every excuse under the sun is made not to spend it when asked to improve the angling and restocking etc.
As this article clearly shows Swindon Borough Council are prepared to destroy a whole eco system and the wild life that reside within it. When someone takes action against them, the issue of the dog and the fishing hook would have not been a issue. If it had happened at Coate Water which makes the council revenue unlike the canal My opinion is this the council are corrupt and lie for their own ends. We see this time and time again. Mr Jennings shame on you and the council.

Score: 22

Esox72
6:01pm Sun 13 Apr 14

BeardyBill wrote…

mikey111 wrote…

mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat

That's got to be an urban myth - bloody immigrants, coming here and nicking our fish sounds like the nonsense spouted by UKIP.

Made me chuckle though......the Councils answer to people taking fish away is to take all the fish away! You couldn't make iit up

It is true the immigrants are stealing fish it's a nation wide problem. That has seen some areas hit hard and fish stocks depleted. Carp and pike are the main targets, but chub perch and other species are targeted. This is theft and destruction is normally committed by the Eastern Europeans, other nationalities to a lesser level.

[quote][p][bold]BeardyBill[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]mikey111[/bold] wrote:
mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat[/p][/quote]That's got to be an urban myth - bloody immigrants, coming here and nicking our fish sounds like the nonsense spouted by UKIP.
Made me chuckle though......the Councils answer to people taking fish away is to take all the fish away! You couldn't make iit up[/p][/quote]It is true the immigrants are stealing fish it's a nation wide problem. That has seen some areas hit hard and fish stocks depleted. Carp and pike are the main targets, but chub perch and other species are targeted. This is theft and destruction is normally committed by the Eastern Europeans, other nationalities to a lesser level.Esox72

BeardyBill wrote…

mikey111 wrote…

mikey111
ive been told it was because there was a lot of immigrants were catching the fish and taking them home to eat

That's got to be an urban myth - bloody immigrants, coming here and nicking our fish sounds like the nonsense spouted by UKIP.

Made me chuckle though......the Councils answer to people taking fish away is to take all the fish away! You couldn't make iit up

It is true the immigrants are stealing fish it's a nation wide problem. That has seen some areas hit hard and fish stocks depleted. Carp and pike are the main targets, but chub perch and other species are targeted. This is theft and destruction is normally committed by the Eastern Europeans, other nationalities to a lesser level.

Score: 9

DLP OldTown
6:40pm Mon 14 Apr 14

This article made me chuckle, taking all the fish from the canal, what next, even for Swindon Borough Clownschool this is a bit much, still they do think outside the box as they tell us on many occasions. perhaps they should 'get back in the box' if this waste of public money is all they can do. If ever an organisation needed privatising then this is it.

This article made me chuckle, taking all the fish from the canal, what next, even for Swindon Borough Clownschool this is a bit much, still they do think outside the box as they tell us on many occasions. perhaps they should 'get back in the box' if this waste of public money is all they can do. If ever an organisation needed privatising then this is it.DLP OldTown

This article made me chuckle, taking all the fish from the canal, what next, even for Swindon Borough Clownschool this is a bit much, still they do think outside the box as they tell us on many occasions. perhaps they should 'get back in the box' if this waste of public money is all they can do. If ever an organisation needed privatising then this is it.

Score: 2

Dosomethingmutley
12:50am Tue 15 Apr 14

It's not just fish being taken to eat, swans, geese and ducks are also being targeted for food. I understand there are no restrictions in some other countries regarding the catching of wildlife for food, some of the perpetrators don't understand that these animals and in particular swans, are protected here.
Piles of carcasses have been found in camps where a East European migrants have congregated, along with hundreds of fish, mainly carp.
If they are caught, nothing is done as "they don't understand our customs" Basically it's a free for all and no one is bothering to stop it.

It's not just fish being taken to eat, swans, geese and ducks are also being targeted for food. I understand there are no restrictions in some other countries regarding the catching of wildlife for food, some of the perpetrators don't understand that these animals and in particular swans, are protected here.
Piles of carcasses have been found in camps where a East European migrants have congregated, along with hundreds of fish, mainly carp.
If they are caught, nothing is done as "they don't understand our customs" Basically it's a free for all and no one is bothering to stop it.Dosomethingmutley

It's not just fish being taken to eat, swans, geese and ducks are also being targeted for food. I understand there are no restrictions in some other countries regarding the catching of wildlife for food, some of the perpetrators don't understand that these animals and in particular swans, are protected here.
Piles of carcasses have been found in camps where a East European migrants have congregated, along with hundreds of fish, mainly carp.
If they are caught, nothing is done as "they don't understand our customs" Basically it's a free for all and no one is bothering to stop it.

Score: 4

Mojo4643
8:04am Tue 15 Apr 14

There is nothing new with immigrants stealing fish ducks swans geese and anything for food that they can catch illegally,,Shearwate
r lake was targeted by foreigners a few years ago, fishing for food,it goes on everywhere!! Why dont councils and police prosecute these people,or is that a hard job to catch them,why move the problem elsewhere??I live in Bristol and it is a common sight around here seeing foreigners fishing for the pot,time it was stopped on threat of deportation!!!

There is nothing new with immigrants stealing fish ducks swans geese and anything for food that they can catch illegally,,Shearwate
r lake was targeted by foreigners a few years ago, fishing for food,it goes on everywhere!! Why dont councils and police prosecute these people,or is that a hard job to catch them,why move the problem elsewhere??I live in Bristol and it is a common sight around here seeing foreigners fishing for the pot,time it was stopped on threat of deportation!!!Mojo4643

There is nothing new with immigrants stealing fish ducks swans geese and anything for food that they can catch illegally,,Shearwate
r lake was targeted by foreigners a few years ago, fishing for food,it goes on everywhere!! Why dont councils and police prosecute these people,or is that a hard job to catch them,why move the problem elsewhere??I live in Bristol and it is a common sight around here seeing foreigners fishing for the pot,time it was stopped on threat of deportation!!!

Score: 2

Brian Harris
2:47pm Tue 15 Apr 14

Esox72 says...

"The person who is behind this is Mr Mark Jennings of Swindon borough Council. This is a political move based on a member of the public taking action against the council for injuries to their dog. The council have justified their actions by causing a smoke screen, sighting illegal fishing is the reason. This is purely to portray to the public that this course of action is justified."

As I’d suspected, the motivation for this appears to be “health and safety” (= “fear of litigation”), so Swindon Borough Council has resorted to a (supposed) “solution” that is disproportionate to and worse than the (supposed) “problem”. Not for the first time - just look at the ridiculously high and over-engineered fence along the causeway at Coate Water!

Esox72 says...
"The person who is behind this is Mr Mark Jennings of Swindon borough Council. This is a political move based on a member of the public taking action against the council for injuries to their dog. The council have justified their actions by causing a smoke screen, sighting illegal fishing is the reason. This is purely to portray to the public that this course of action is justified."
As I’d suspected, the motivation for this appears to be “health and safety” (= “fear of litigation”), so Swindon Borough Council has resorted to a (supposed) “solution” that is disproportionate to and worse than the (supposed) “problem”. Not for the first time - just look at the ridiculously high and over-engineered fence along the causeway at Coate Water!Brian Harris

Esox72 says...

"The person who is behind this is Mr Mark Jennings of Swindon borough Council. This is a political move based on a member of the public taking action against the council for injuries to their dog. The council have justified their actions by causing a smoke screen, sighting illegal fishing is the reason. This is purely to portray to the public that this course of action is justified."

As I’d suspected, the motivation for this appears to be “health and safety” (= “fear of litigation”), so Swindon Borough Council has resorted to a (supposed) “solution” that is disproportionate to and worse than the (supposed) “problem”. Not for the first time - just look at the ridiculously high and over-engineered fence along the causeway at Coate Water!

Score: 0

Clare E A Kingston
12:05pm Wed 16 Apr 14

This all seems very fishy to me. Who of their friends have benefitted from these free fish stocks -the fish are very valuable, particularly carp - we need to know where they went in Wiltshire (this is poaching on a massive scale- as they have taken the lot) They could have, after all transferred them to the new canal section where they are supervised by many resident in their houses. They should have at least stayed within Swindon - we are not part of Wiltshire, why should Wiltshire keep taking our best stuff for nothing, is it because we've now got a better Waitrose than them and they just can't take a working class town actually getting what they've worked for so go and steal the blooming lot, corrupt criminals.

This all seems very fishy to me. Who of their friends have benefitted from these free fish stocks -the fish are very valuable, particularly carp - we need to know where they went in Wiltshire (this is poaching on a massive scale- as they have taken the lot) They could have, after all transferred them to the new canal section where they are supervised by many resident in their houses. They should have at least stayed within Swindon - we are not part of Wiltshire, why should Wiltshire keep taking our best stuff for nothing, is it because we've now got a better Waitrose than them and they just can't take a working class town actually getting what they've worked for so go and steal the blooming lot, corrupt criminals.Clare E A Kingston

This all seems very fishy to me. Who of their friends have benefitted from these free fish stocks -the fish are very valuable, particularly carp - we need to know where they went in Wiltshire (this is poaching on a massive scale- as they have taken the lot) They could have, after all transferred them to the new canal section where they are supervised by many resident in their houses. They should have at least stayed within Swindon - we are not part of Wiltshire, why should Wiltshire keep taking our best stuff for nothing, is it because we've now got a better Waitrose than them and they just can't take a working class town actually getting what they've worked for so go and steal the blooming lot, corrupt criminals.

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